Convertible folding reading stand



Dec. 25, 1951 v D, HlEMENz 2,579,740

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING READING STAND Filed Aug. 25, 1948 2 SI-XEETS--SHEETl.

. INVENTOR.

- 4rraz/YEY Dec. 25, 1951 v. 0. HIEMENZ 2,579,740

CONVERTIBLE FOLDING READING STAND Filed Aug. 23, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2\INVENTOR. Z9. /0- V524 flfl/EME/vz Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GONVERTIBLE FOLDING READING STAND Vera D. Hiemenz,Montrose, Calif. Application August 23, 1948, Serial No. 45,631

1 This invention relates to reading stands or easels for supportingbooks, magazines and the like. The general object of the invention is toprovide a multi-purpose easel having adjustable means for supporting itin any of a wide variety of positions.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an easel that may besupported at varying heights upon a supporting surface such as the topof a table or desk. Another object is to provide an easel that may besupported at varying degrees of angular inclination with reference to asupporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easel that has asupporting means adapted to support it either upon a table on a desktop, on a bed or couch, or on the sides of a bath tub, with the standextending down into the tub.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easel having a noveland improved page holding device.

Another object is to provide an easel having extension means forrendering it better able to support large magazines and the like.

A further object is to provide an easel having all of the foregoingcharacteristics, and in addition, being capable of folding into a fairlysmall compact package.

Other objects will becomeapparent in the ensuing specifications andappended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved easel in its normalleg-supported position;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the easel in a semileg supported position;

Fig. i is a rear view of the easel with its legs shown in full lines ina partially folded position and in dotted lines in a fully foldedposition;

Fig. 5 is an underneath view of a portion of the easel showing thefolded position of the page holders; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the easel supported in a bath tub;

Fig. 7 is an end View of the same;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the upper portion of a modified form of theeasel;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the upper portion of another modified form ofthe invention;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line Il-II of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of the knee joints of the easel.

As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, I haveshown in Figs.

1 to 7 and 12, a stand comprising a supporting panel I5, a base plate Itsecured to the lower edge of the panel I5, a pair of thigh members I!pivoted at I8 to the panel 15, and a pair of leg rods I9 and 20 attachedto the outer end of each of the thigh members IT.

The base plate I6 is secured to the lower edge of the panel It with aportion of its width pro jecting forwardly from the panel I5 to providea ledge 22 that functions to. support the bottom of a book, and with theremainder of its width projecting rearwardly from the panel It toprovide a flange 23 the width of which is substantially the same as thethickness of the: thigh members 11. While various means for securing thebase plate to the panel may be employed, 1 find it quite satisfactory toprovide a groove 2i in the upper side of the base plate (as shown inFig. 3 by illustrating a portion of the end of the base plate in crosssection) and by gluing the lower edge of the panel into the groove 2|.

The pivots it are disposed at right angles to the plane of the panelIii, whereby the thigh members I! swing in planes parallel to the panelI5. The pivots I8 are located at the lower corners of the panel It,whereby the thigh members may assume positions projecting outwardlybeyond the sides of the panel I5 as in Fig. 1, their lower facesengaging the end extremities of the flange 23 and in alignment with theupper surface of the flange 23, or positions in which they projecttoward each other, within the area of the panel I5, with their oppositefaces resting against the flange 23 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.4, or intermediate positions. The ends of the thigh members I? arerounded as at 26 in order to permit them to swing through arcs ofdegrees between the two extreme positions, without interference from theflange 23.

The rods l9 and 2;] are shown as being constructed from cylindrical rodmaterial (e. g. dowling) although they need not necessarily becylindrical. The rods Iii are secured in sockets 25 (Fig. 12) in thethigh members ii, and lie in the plane of swinging movement of the thighmembers Ii, i. e. a plane parallel to the panel it. The rods 29 aresecured in trunnions 2% which are pivotally mounted in cylindricalsockets 28 in the thigh members I7. The trunnions it fit snugly in thesockets 28, sufiiciently toresist any tendency of the knee members to.drop .out of the sockets, but loose enough to allow the trunnions to beswivelled in the sockets 28 and to be shifted 3 axially therein, whenmanual force is applied to the rods 29.

Keepers 29 are secured to the rear sides of the thigh members I1, andhave portions projecting beyond the ends of the thigh members IT andprovided with notches 30 to receive the rods 20.

When received in the notches 39, the rods 29 will diverge from the rodsI9 at approximately a 60 degree angle as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Bypulling the trunnions 26 outwardly until the rods 20 clear the ends ofthe keepers 29, it is possible to swing the rods 29 into alignment withthe rods I9 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines onthe right side of Fig. 4. By pushing the trunnions 25 back into thesockets 28, the rods 29 will be brought into positions in which thekeepers 29 function as stops to maintain them substantially in alignmentwith the rods I9, although permitting the amount of divergence shown inFig. 6. With the rods 20 moved into alignment with the rods I9, thethigh members I! and rods I9 may be moved to positions shown in Fig. 4,in which they are disposed within the area of the panel I5.

Each thigh member I1 is provided with a latch pawl 3 I, pivoted theretoby a pivot 32. Normally the pawls 3I lie flush with the forward sides ofthe thigh members I'I. When the thigh members are in their extendedposition shown in Fig. 1, however, the pawls 3I are projected as in Fig.l to engage the side edges of the panel I5 and thereby secure the thighmembers H in the extended positions cooperating with the flanges 23 tohold the thigh members against swinging movement in either direction.The thigh members are thus locked in substantially rigid relation to thepanel I5 so that they may function to securely support the stand uponthe rods I9 and 29, functioning as legs. The keeper 29, in the positionof Fig. 1, functions to secure the rods 20 against rotation withreference to the thigh members I1, thereby preventing the rods I9 and 20from spreading.

The base plate I6 is provided with four supporting feet in the form ofbuttons 33 of soft rubber or equivalent material secured to its underface. If desired, the rods I9 and 20 may be folded to the completelyfolded positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and the easel supportedupon the buttons 33. In this case, the panel I5 will be upright. Thisposition of use is not illustrated in the drawings but may be readilyperceived by imagining the position that would :be assumed by the easelif it were tilted to an upright position with the feet 33 resting on asupporting surface 34.

In the leg supported position of Figs. 1 and 2, the panel I5 is inclinedupwardly and rearwardly at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to thevertical.

Fig. 3 illustrates a semi-leg supported position of the easel, in whichthe easel is supported by engagement of the flange 23 and the rods 29against a supporting surface 34. The positions of the rods 29 withreference to the thigh members I1 is the same as in Fig. l, with therods 2|] engaged in the notches 39. This position is also illustrated onthe left side of Fig. 4. The positions of the thigh members I! withreference to the panel'l5 may be any position between the fully folded,dotted line position of Fig. 4 and the positions in alignment with theside edges of panel I5, illustrated in Fig. 6. In any of thesepositions, the rods 20 will projectrdownwardly 4 and rear'wardly asindicated in Fig. 3, but the angularity of the panel I5 with referenceto the supporting surface 34 will be varied in accordance with theshifting of the thigh members between the two limit positions justdescribed. When the thigh members are in the inner limit positions shownin dotted lines in Fig. 4, the angle between the panel I5 and supportingsurface 34 will be at a maximum, the outer ends of the rods 29 being ata minimum distance from the edge of the flange 23. As the thigh membersI! are swung outwardly, the outer ends of the rods 20 will move awayfrom each other and away from the edge of flange 23 on an are indicatedby the broken line 36 of Fig. 4, and when the thigh members arrive atpositions such as that indicated by the dot and dash line Ila of Fig. 4,the ends of the rods 2|] will be at a maximum distance from the edge offlange 23 and will therefore engage the surface 34 with the anglebetween panel I5 and surface 34 reduced to a minimum. This minimum angleis shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The maximum angle is shown in brokenlines in Fig. 3. The adjustment of angularity results from the fact thatthe extent of rearward projection of the rods 29 behind the plane of thethigh members I'I remains unchanged while the horizontal distancebetween the supporting edge of the flange 23 and the rear ends of thelegs 20 varies.

When the stand is used in the Fig. 3 position, it is possible to utilizethe legs I9 as extension supports for large magazines, by moving thethigh members I! to positions such as the broken line position He ofFig. 4. In such position, the

leg members I9 will project outwardly from the sides of the panel at anupward inclination such as to position beneath the upper corners of themagazine.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and '7, it is possible, when desired, toutilize the easel for reading in a bath tub by moving the thigh membersIT to intermediate positions in which they are aligned with the sideedges of the panel I5, by shifting one of the rods 29 to a positionslightly diverging from its companion rod I9 as determined by contactwith the edge of the keeper 29, and my moving the other rod 20 to aposition where its free end abuts the trunnion 26 at the opposite sideof the easel so as to function as a stud or brace holding the kneemembers apart, all as shown in Fig. 6. It may now be noted that with thethigh members I! extending upwardly, the rods I9 and 29 on one side, andthe rod I9 on the other side, will project outwardly in substantially acommon plane whereby they may rest upon the rim of a bath tub 35.Because the rods I9 are disposed beneath the rods 20, the contact willbe such,

that the stand will be inclined at a proper reading angle as indicatedin Fig. 7.

The page holder comprises a pressure bar 31 which is pivoted at 38 onone end of an arm 39 the other end of which is hinged on a pintle 49.The pintle 40 is mounted in the ears M of a bracket 42 which isconnected by a pivot 43 to' the notch 36 so as to permit the bracket42to be pivoted about the pivot 43 to the position shown in Fig. 5, inwhich the bar 31 will be pressed upwardly against the bottom of the baseplate l6 by the spring 44. This is the folded position of the pageholder. In it, the bar 31 is substantially aligned with the arm 39 asshown in Fig. 5.

The notch it functions to reduce the necessary length of the bracket 42to a point where the bar 31 will not project beyond the end of the baseplate 16. It also functions to retain the arm 39 against lateralmovement when in the operative position shown in Fig. 1.

The panel l5 may be plain as shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, or may beprovided with page supporting extension arms 41, pivoted at 48 at theirouter ends to the upper corners of the panel a as shown in Fig. 8. Inthis modification of the invention, the extension arms 4'! are adaptedto be folded, when not in use, into channels 49 in the upper portion ofthe panel 15a.

In the modifications shown in Fig. 10', the arms 41 are mounted inrabbetts 45b in the rear side of the upper portion of the panel l5b.

It is to be understood that my easel may be constructed from wood,plastic or metal, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an easel, a panel for supporting a book, magazine or the like, apair of thigh members pivoted to the lower corners of said panel forswinging movement in a plane parallel to that of the panel, and a pairof rods attached to the outer end of each thigh member, one rod of eachpair being disposed substantially in the plane of swinging movement ofthe thigh members and the other rod of each pair being connected to theend of its respective thigh member for swinging movement about an axisgenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the thigh member, from aposition substantially parallel to said one rod to a position in whichthe two rods are spread apart, said thigh members and rods beingadjustable from positions in which the thigh members extend outwardlybeyond the sides of the panel and said rods diverge downwardly forengagement with a supporting surface to function as legs, to positionsin which said thigh members extend inwardly toward each other behind thepanel and the legs extend upwardly within the area of the panel.

2. In an easel, a panel for supporting a book, magazine or the like, aledge at the lower extremity of said panel, functioning as a rest forthe lower edge of the book, etc., a pair of thigh members pivoted to thelower corners of the panel for swinging movement from positions in whichthey extend toward each other behind the panel to positions in whichthey project outwardly beyond the sides of the panel, latch memberspivoted to said thigh members for movement to positions engaging theside edges of the panel to lock said thigh members in their extendedpositions, and a pair of rods attached to the outer ends of each of saidthigh members, one of the rods of each pair being secured to itsrespective thigh member andv disposed substantially in the plane ofswinging movement of the thigh member and the other rod of each pairbeing pivoted to the outer end of its thigh member on an axis parallelto the longitudinal axis of the thigh member for swinging movement froma position substantially parallel to said one rod to a positiondiverging from said one rod, said rods extending downwardly when thethigh members are in their ex- (ill tended position and being engageablewith a supporting surface to function as legs.

3. In an easel for books, magazines and the like, a panel having at itslower extremity a base plate projecting forwardly to provide a booksupporting ledge and projecting rearwardly to provide a flange, a pairof thigh members pivoted to the lower corners of said panel for swingingmovement through arcs of approximately degrees from positions extendingtoward each other in alignment and disposed behind the panel topositions projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the panel, said thighmembers engaging said flange at each of said positions. and therebylimited against movement'beyond said positions, latch pawls. pivoted tosaid thigh members and adapted, in the extended positions of said thighmembers to be moved into engagement with the side edges of saidpanel andcooperating with said flange to lock said thigh members in said extendedpositions, and rods attached to the outer ends of said thigh members andmovable from positions in which they both lie substantially in the planeof swinging movement of the thigh members so as to be foldable behindthe panel when said thigh members are in their first mentionedpositions, to positions in which they are spread apart for resting upona supporting surface and functioning as leg 4. In an easel for books,magazines and the like, a panel, a base plate secured to the lower edgeof said panel and including a portion projecting forwardly to provide aledge to support thelower edge of a book or the like and a portionprojecting rearwardly from the panel to provide a flange, a pair ofthigh members pivoted to the lower corners of said panel in contact withthe rear face of the panel for movement from posi- ,tions in which theyextend toward each other behind the panel to extended positions in whichthey project outwardly beyond the sides of the panel, means for lockingsaid thigh members in said extended positions, and a pair of rodsattached to the outer ends of said thigh members, each of said pairsincluding a rod disposed substantially in the plane of movement of therespective thigh member and another rod diverging therefrom andextending rearwardly, both rods of each pair diverging downwardly whenthe thigh members are in their extended position, and functioning aslegs to support said panel in a position elevated above a supportingsurface, and, when the thigh members are in their inwardly extendingpositions, said first mentioned rods extending upwardly and said secondmentioned rods extending downwardly and rearwardly and functioning aslegs to cooperate with the rear edge of said flange in supporting thepanel immediately adjacent the supporting surface.

5. In an easel for books, magazines and the like, a panel, a bottomplate secured to the lower edge of said panel and having a portionprojecting forwardly of the panel to constitute a rest for the loweredge of a book and another portion projecting rearwardly of the panel toconstitute a flange, a pair of thigh members pivoted to the lowercorners of the panel for movement from positions extending inwardlytoward each other with one side of each thigh member resting againstsaid flange, to positions projecting outwardly beyond the sideextremities of the panel with the other side of each thigh memberresting against the outer extremity of said flange, latch pawls pivotedto the first mentioned side of the 7 respective thigh members'formovementto positions engaging the outer edges of said panel when saidthigh members are in their extended positions, thereby to cooperate withsaid outer extremities of said flange 'tclock the thigh members in, saidextended positions,v and a pair of'ro'ds attached to the outer. end ofeach thigh member,

each pair including a rod fixedlysecured to a.

respective thigh member. and disposed substantially in the plane ofmovement thereof and another rod pivoted to the outer end of. arespective thigh member on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe. thigh member, for movement from a folded position lying paralleland adjacent to the. first mentioned rod to a position extendingrearwardly from, the plane of the paneland diverging from the firstmentioned ro'd so that the pairs of rods may, in the second mentionedpositions of said thigh members, extend downwardly in .spreadrelation tofunction as legs in supporting thepanel at a height above a supportingsurface, and latch means forlatching. said other rod insaidrearwardlyextendin position.

6. In a reading stand, a panel and a base for conjointly supporting abook, magazine or the like, a pair of thigh members pivoted to the lowercorners of said panel onthe rearside thereof for movement in a planeparallel to said panel, and a pair, of rod members attached to the outerend of eachthigh member, one rod member of each pair lying substantiallyin the plane of swinging movement of its respective thigh member andprojecting upwardly when the thigh member projects inwardly and theother rod of each 1 pair extending rearwardly and downwardly from therespective thigh member and functioning as a leg which cooperates withthe lower extremity of saidbase to support said panel in an upwardly,

. manual manipulation.

, 7. A stand as defined in claim 6, wherein said thigh members areadapted to be moved to positions extending outwardly beyond-the sideextremities of said panel, in alignment with each other, in whichposition said rod members extend downwardly, diverging fromeach other toprovide pairs of diverging legs for supporting the panel at aheight'above a supporting surface.

8. In an easel, a panel and base member cooperatively functioning tosupport a book, magazine or the like, a pair of thigh members pivoted tothe lower corners of said panel, and a pair of rods attached to theouter ends of the respective thigh members, each of said pairs includinga rod secured to a respective thigh member in a plane parallel to saidpanel and another rod pivoted to the outer end of the respective thighmember for movement from a position diverging from the first mentionedrod at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to a position diverging fromthe first'mentioned rod at an angle of less than 30 degrees, said thighmembers being adjustable to positions extending outwardly beyond theside extremities of the panel in alignment with each other in whichposition said rod members diverge downwardly to provide legs forsupporting the panel at a height above a supporting surface, and topositions extending upwardly, in which latter positions three of saidrods project outwardly from the side extremities of the panel with thefirst mentioned rod members substantially in alignment with each otherand the fourth rod is extended into engagement with the opposite thighmember to resist movement of the thigh members toward each other, theaforesaid 60 degrees divergence of said rod members being utilized whensaid rod members extend downwardly and function as supporting legs asaforesaid and the aforesaid less than 20 degree divergence beingutilized when said rod members extend outwardly, said three rod memberswhen in said outwardly'extending positions being adapted to rest uponthe rim of a bath tub at the respective sides thereof to support saidpanel with the lower portion thereof extending down into the bath tuband with. the panel inclined at a proper reading angle.

9. In an easel, a panel and a base member cooperative to support a book,magazine or the like,

a pair of thigh members each pivoted at one end to a respective lowercorner of said panel for swinging movement in a plane parallel to thepanel, and a pair of rod members attached to the outer end of each thighmember, each pair including a rod member afiixed to its respective thighmember in a plane parallel to the plane of swinging movement thereof andanother rod member pivotally connected to the outer end of itsrespective thigh member on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe thigh member, said pivotal connection comprising a trunnion membersecured to the end of said other rod member, at right angles thereto anda socket in the thigh member, in which said trunnion is rotatably andaxially movable, and a keeper member having'a notch in which said otherrod member may be received and from which said other rod may be removedby moving said trunnion outwardly in its socket.

VERA D. HIEMENZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS

